(Outdated) The King of Elements (part 2)

Chapter 90

How long had that incessant clock been ticking? Rose thought to herself, sketching a waterfall going over a rocky mountain. She didn't even know that there was a clock in here. After looking around the vastly empty foyer, she finally found the giant, mahogany clock hanging just over the door. Somehow, Rose didn't think that was safe. Trying to ignore the clock, she went back to focusing on her art. She twirled her pencil around her fingers, tapping her finger on her bottom lip as she looked over her art. Something looked like it was missing, but she didn't know what. It would be a lot easier to concentrate if she didn't have the receptionist eyes peering into her. That, and the blasted ticking beating against her eardrum.

"So, what's your name?" she heard the receptionist say. Stunned at the suddenness, considering that she'd be there for at least forty-five minutes, she looked up. The lady was lounging in her chair, her fingers intertwined on her flat stomach as she looked at Rose. Considering how lax she looked, Rose figured that they don't really get a lot of people coming in.

"It's Rosemarie," she answered, using the name she usually give strangers.

"Rosemarie, huh." She nodded, making her leather seat rock slightly. Her bushy, red hair swayed slightly in the air. "The name's Jessica. Is that guy in there your boyfriend?"

"Not even. We're just on the same team." She went back to her drawing, slightly annoyed. "Why do you ask, anyway?"

"Hmm... I'm thinking about asking him out on a date."

Rose's eyes shot up. "Excuse me?"

"Well, he is the grandson of Samuel Wolf, right? I figured that with a person like that Ian guy under my belt, I'd finally be out of this dump. Do you know how boring it is sitting here waiting for someone to come in? Especially considering how many people normally just call in. I mean, I do get to answer the phone from time to time, but I just transfer them to the right people if they do."

Rose counted backwards from five, trying not to throw her pencil at Jessica. She wasn't sure what a pencil would do to her, but it was better than throwing her sketch pad, which she didn't want to lose. "Why are you telling me all of this? You know I'd just go back to Ian about this, right?"

Jessica chuckled as she planted her feet on the ground. "I'm just joking, girl. Just trying to get a conversation started. It's way too quiet in here." Rose frowned before she turned back to her sketch book. "I don't think he's going to pass." Giving a frustrated groan, she look back at Jessica, who had sobered up. She continued. "I've seen way too many Apprentices who get overzealous about their abilities to think rationally. Ian closely resembled most of them; bull-headed fools who think they were destined to become an assassin."

"Ian is different from them. He may seem bull-headed, in fact he is in some regard, but from what I've seen from him those days I happened to see him training, you'd think otherwise. He'd worry me half-to-death considering how hard he pushed himself. I can't tell you how many times he had to get scooped off the highway from pushing himself too hard." Rose couldn't help but grin. He certainly changed from when they had first met. His anger was much more controlled, even though he still has his moments, and he was actually opening up himself more to her. He told her about all the types of fantasy books he'd read, his favorite types of rock bands, and he even confessed to want to play Dungeons & Dragons. That was a little too much for her taste, but at least he was being himself and not trying to be a thug. Even with her horrid first-impressions, she couldn't help but find herself believing in him.

Just as Jessica hmphed, the door opened. Ian walked out and, after his eyes fell on Rose, rushed to her and pulled her in a tight embrace. "It was so horrible, Rose," he said in a low, pitiful voice. "They made me fight someone who used biokinesis to look like you, and said how much you hated me and wanted me dead and stuff." He pulled away from her. "I don't want to go through that again."